Jonathan Bruce Hancock is the author of 'The Study Book', a columnist for
Reader's Digest magazine, and the Founder of The Junior Memory Championship. A two-time Guinness World Record-Holder and former World Memory Champion, he also spent fifteen years working as a radio presenter on
BBC Radio Oxford
BBC Radio Oxford is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of Oxfordshire.
It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds from studios in the Summertown area of Oxford.
According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audienc ...
. He has written fourteen books, mostly on
memory
Memory is the faculty of the mind by which data or information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future action. If past events could not be remembered ...
and learning, and spent many years working as a teacher and school leader. He provides freelance services as a writer, ghost-writer, editor and publisher.
Early life
He was born in north-east
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, on 12 February 1972, but moved at an early age to North
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...
where he spent his early childhood, and then to Nunthorpe, a suburb of
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area.
Until the early 1800s, the a ...
. After school, he did charity work in Australia before moving to
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
to study English at
Christ Church,
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to th ...
. As a student in Oxford, he became involved with the local
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
Jonathan has always had a keen interest in memory and learning. His books have titles such as 'How to be a Genius' and 'Maximise your Memory', and they have been translated into many different languages. He works with The Learning Skills Foundation as Founder of The Junior Memory Championship, an educational initiative to promote memory strategies in primary schools.
His latest books include 'The Study Book', 'Help Your Child Succeed At School', 'Brilliant Memory Training', 'Number Training Your Brain', and 'Improve Your Memory For Study'.
Jonathan spent ten years working in primary schools, as a teacher, Deputy Headteacher and Acting Headteacher.
Jonathan has worked as a memory consultant and writer for a number of TV companies. He has been the resident memory expert for all six series of the popular Channel 4 programme 'Child Genius'.
Jonathan provides freelance services as a writer, ghost-writer, editor and publisher.